The time is coming soon. I knew that it would happen eventually, but time goes by so fast. I can't believe that my little boy is getting older so quickly. And, as my 7 year-old son ages, I have begun to prepare myself for that one BIG question. The day is coming soon when he is going to want to know the answer. He is going to ask me the question that I have always dreaded answering...

Mom...what is the Stock Market?

And I can honestly tell you at this very moment, the only response that I can give him is:

Well...honey. It's located in New York.

While I should apologize for my ignorance, I can't. There is only so much time in one lifetime. We have to pick and choose what we are going to focus on that day. And quite frankly, the stock market, which I realize I should know about, is at the bottom of my priority list.

When I received notice that my Social Security benefits will be only $691.00 per month, an alternative strategy for my future comfort rose quickly. I easily spend $691.00 on my son's Pokemon cards now!

Because I took off time from work to return to college and to have a child and to get divorced...I realized that I do not have a 401K, a retirement fund, a hidden nest egg. Nada...nothing to supplement my Social Security benefits.

As an unemployed single parent trying to make a go of freelance writing, opportunity knocked at my door. BUYandHOLD was looking for a writer to do a weekly column for their site. I cruised over to their site and immediately knew that this was the place for me.

Two things grabbed my attention...I don't need a lot of money to get started and they weren't promising me a get-rich-quick scheme. I despise that concept. It is based on someone else's lie and too many innocent people fall for it. The motto at buyandhold is "do your homework", take the time and put in the effort to learn and then invest.

Bingo! This is it. They need me. I proposed a column to them that would focus on meeting the needs of women exclusively. We're coming online in droves, we're web savvy and we hold the title of "major purchaser" in our households. We are a force to be reckoned with!

But, similar to my situation, how many women have opted out of a good paying job with all the benefits, including a retirement fund, to care for their children? How many women have chosen to not work at all and remain stay-at-home-moms? What if they have found it difficult to set aside funds monthly for their future comfort? No matter what your past or present situation is, as regards a fund for the future...you've come to the right place to begin your quest.

If you're a young woman and can't really focus on the future yet, please consider this carefully. Now that I'm older, I realize that I should have given more thought to my future comfort. As women and mothers, our own needs tend to fall by the wayside.

And for those of us who may be older with no cushion? Well ladies...hang onto your hats! We just have to work a little harder and a little faster, but by golly...it ain't over yet. I'm not giving up quite so easily.

And so...this unique weekly column was born. It is specifically for women but ANYONE is welcome. If you are a beginner and want to master the Stock Market beast, you're in the right place. I will provide a weekly guide that will be based on my own research and learning.

And the best part of this whole deal is that we have an entire army of experts at our disposal, here at BUYandHOLD. These wonderful people will guide and encourage this column to insure that the information I provide is valid and accurate.

As a novice myself, we will start from the very beginning. There will be no presumption of prior knowledge of the Stock Market. You will receive weekly information that will add to your knowledge base, over time.

I would ask that you bookmark the following page: Educate Yourself make a note to yourself to come back every week. The information that I research and provide cannot possibly be learned in the short term. We are going to take it slow and strive for quality, not quantity. Please be sure to invite any other women or beginners to join us here as well.

My own commitment is to offer more to my son than; "Well...it's located in New York". I am further committed to empower all of us with the knowledge necessary to improve our own personal financial status. Our first lesson next week...What is it and what does it do?

BUYandHOLD does not offer or provide any investment advice or opinion regarding the nature, potential, value, suitability or profitability of any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy. Any investment decisions you make will be based solely on your evaluation of your financial circumstances, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. The securities mentioned above are being used for illustrative purposes only and should not be regarded as an offer to sell or as a solicitation of an offer to buy and past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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